Chiang Mai, Thailand

Phuket – Austrian tourist stabbed, robbed by Phuket youth gang

An Austrian tourist is recovering from a punctured lung and other injuries sustained in a brutal robbery attack by four knife-wielding youths in Phuket yesterday.
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Patong Police identified the victim as Rupert Wilhelmstatter.

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Mr Wilhelmstatter, in his early 50s, was returning by motorbike to his hotel in Patong at 1:45pm when the attack occurred. He was returning from Paradise Beach, on the south end of Patong Bay.

The gang members, aboard two motorbikes, approached the Austrian with one bike on each side.

The youngest gang member, aged 13, kicked out at Mr Wilhelmstatter’s motorbike, causing him to crash. Mr Wilhelmstatter fought back from the ground, but was stabbed and suffered a punctured lung. The gang then robbed him of 200 baht before making their getaway.

Mr Wilhelmstatter was taken to Patong Hospital for emergency treatment, then transferred to the better-equipped Bangkok Hospital in Phuket Town. A source at the privately-run facility confirmed Mr Wilhelmstatter is in the intensive care unit, but declined to give further details.

Police investigating the incident did not need to travel far to make the first arrests. At an address on Ratchapatanusorn Road, just around the corner from Patong Police Station, they arrested two youths aged 13 and 14 at about 5:30pm.